An evening of artistic fun raised THB 100,000 for the Phang Nga provincial school supported by Laguna Phuket’s Developing Sustainable Schools program – boosted by an impromptu THB 10,000 donation for a paintspattered tablecloth.

The tablecloth was used by children of Baan Jao Krue School to protect their desks in art classes with Laguna Phuket Summer Family Festival Artist in Residence Christopher Hogan.

But partygoer Cassi Potger was so impressed by the tablecloth’s colorful patterns she bought it with a THB 10,000 donation – and now plans to hang it in her Phuket home as an abstract painting.

Her donation swelled the evening’s charity fund – from sales of the children’s paintings and raffle tickets for one of Australian Hogan’s acclaimed aquatic-themed paintings – to a grand total of THB 100,000.

Hogan took time out from his Laguna residency to volunteer creative art lessons for teachers and youngsters of Baan Jao Krua School, current focus of the Developing Sustainable Schools program. The raffle draw for his “Clownfish V” signed painting, valued at THB 60,000, was won by Kreangkrai Archeewasuk.

Explaining her donation, Cassie said: “I was so impressed by what the art classes meant for these children and the tablecloth seemed to symbolize their efforts as a work of art.” Christopher Hogan commented: “The tablecloth really stands up as an abstract painting in its own right.”

The Laguna Phuket Summer Family Festival runs until 20 August with daily Kidz Fun Zone adventure activities, a Flying Trapeze, Hollywood@Laguna family filming of a “Virtual Motorcycle Tour of Phuket” and nightly entertainment in the beer tent. The Festival also has a range of offers for children to stay, eat and play free at Laguna hotels until 31 October.